Irvington Updates: Waterfront Zoning, Affordable Housing Law

At the first public hearing on Irvington's , few residents were in attendance, said Village Administrator Larry Schopfer.

Schopfer thinks the circumstances are entirely different this time because the possibility of constructing a parking structure are not written into this re-drafted law. 

Trustees did receive about 10 pieces of correspondence, which Schopfer described as "constructive" more than disparaging or "rah-rah" in favor of the plan.

For example, resident John Canning wrote: "I believe the current draft needs to be modified to better optimize the zone's adjacency to the water."

Peter Bernstein—who had been staunchly opposed to last year's proposal—suggested two changes: making the language "reasonable capacity" in regard to traffic less ambiguous and including a set-back requirement on the east side of the property.

Some residents requested that additional roads and intersections be included in traffic studies of the property.

With the exception of Miriam Sivak—who "strongly objects to any housing on the waterfront—and Ann Acheson—who believes that the new law does not delineate a clear "purpose and intent"—for the development of the waterfront district, all other letters were relatively unemotional. 

The board will consider all correspondences and hold a public work session on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. (*Editor's note: This article originally had the worksession on a Wednesday; the date, however, was correct.)

The public hearing will continue during the board's regular meeting on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., after which trustees may be prepared to vote, Schopfer said. 

Read the draft proposal on the village website here.

Questions or comments can be directed to Lawrence Schopfer, Village Administrator at LSCHOPFER@IRVINGTONNY.GOV or by phone at 591-4358.

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Irvington will also consider an Affordable Housing Inclusionary Zoning Law, which will essentially be the same as the county's model law.

Irvington's proposal states that 10 percent of any residential units built within an apartment, condominium, co-op or housing complex be deemed "fair and affordable"—or purchasable only by families or individuals making less than 80 percent of the county's median income. Five-to-nine unit complexes would need to make one "affordable."

This stems from a settlement in a lawsuit between Westchester County and the Anti-Discrimination Center, who claimed certain Westchester communities (Irvington included) were limiting diversity by keeping prices too high.

There will be a public hearing on Feb. 6, at  7 p.m. in Village Hall on the draft law, which can be viewed here.

The Village of Irvington already sponsors two separate buildings where affordable apartments are rented: The Burnham Building, located at 2 Main Street (above the), and Hudson Views at Irvington, located at 1 South Astor Street—though there was never a law on the books requiring that any percentage of units be affordable.